Sound-box for talking-machines.



SOUND BOX FOR TALKING MACHINES.

0 APPLICATION FILED MARJG, 1914.

Patented Nov. 24, 1914.

mmmiz a greatly ALVA D. JONES, GE PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA.

SOUND-BOX FOR TALKINGEQACHINES.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Nov. 2%, 3914-.

Application filed March 26. 1914. Serial No. 82?,353.

To all whom it may concern.

e it known that l, Ana 1). JONES, a citizen of the l nited States, residing in the city and county of Philadelphia, State of Pennsylvania. have invented a new and useful Sound-Box for 'lalliinfz-hlachines, oi which the fl'lll()\\'lllg is a specilication.

In sound boxes -l'or talking machines. as generally constructed, the sound reproducing diaphragm is detachably held in position by one or more (letzuliable annuli of rubber or similar material and the sound box is composed of a plurality of metallic and rubber 1 arts united together by screws, the various parts having rubber insulation between them. whereby the cost of production is greatly increased.

It is further well-known that most sound boxes in use trevuientlv emit a metallic or scratchy sound acrommiuying the reproduc tiou ot sound from thes'uuul reproducing tablet. liy my present invention. l construct the entire sound box body of a single body oi rubber or similar suitable material, the main body portion of the. ho); having attached thereto by an auuular,resilient. integral hinge, a front annular bead. having a diaphragm seat therein. said head being softer or semi-curcd with respect to the sound box body, which latter harder or cured to a harder degree than said trout annular bead containing the diaphragm seat.

1 have discovered as the result of an extensive series of experiments, that rubber when properly cured to the requisite degree. possesses may characteristics oi the human throat when employedfor a sound reproducing agent, and by constructing the entire sound box body of rubber and mounting the. diaphragm in a seat within the front annular head, which is softer than the sound box body, 1 have produced a device whereby the sound delivered from the diaphragm is mellowed and improved, and a clear and distinct articulation obtained provision thus being made tor the diaphragm to be yieldingly supported so that it has capacity ment for vibration adiacent to its perimeter as well as its center, my novel sound box and its adjuncts being inexpensive to construct, sensitive in action, easily and quickly repaired and readily arressible forthe. purpose of inspection or replacement of parts, means being thus provided tor a general improveot' the tones, aiiielioration of the scratchy, metallic or grinding sounds conr mon in instruments of this class, and provision being thus made for a faithful development and reproduction of the delicate sounds ordinarily ,difiicult to which are reproduced by my device with-a maximum degree of fidelity and faithfulness to the original.

"Jo the above ends, my invention consists ot' a novel constructhai ot a one-piece sound box composed of rubber or similar material, wherein tl body portion thickened and cured to the requisite degree of hardness. said body portion having integral with or secured to the front portion thereof, an annular bead encircling and containingthe diaphragm. the material of whirh said head is composed lacing softer than the body of the sound box. whereby the requisite capacity tor the vibration of the diaphragm at its outer and intermediate portions is provided.

it further consists of a nove construction ot a sound box having a one-piece body of rubber or similar material ot varying de- Q1965 of hardness, within the sotter portion of which the mica or other diaphragm is necessitating the emcast or molded. without ployi 'en oi rutraneous fastening); devices.

it rurther consists of a novel method of mo ding or casting my novel sound box body it. turtaer consists of other novel features ot' construction. all as will be hereinafter fully set. forth.

For the purpose of illustrating my invention, I have shown in the. acconnianying drawings one form thereof which is present preferred by me, since the same will be found in practireto give satisfactory and reliable results, although it is to be understood that the various instrumentalities of which my invention consists can be variously ar angled and organized and that my inven tion is not limited to the precise ar angeinent and organization of as herein shown. and described.

Figure 1 represents a side elevation of a sound box for talking machines, gramophones,graphophones and the like, ing my invention. Fig. 2- represents a section on line. al -a Fig. 1. Fig. .3 represents view similar to a portion of Fig. 2', showing the sound box on an enlarged scale.

Similar numerals of reference indicate corresponding parts in the figures.

reproduce.

these instruinentalities' embody to receive the peripheral 'front wall 14 of tion. A pivot-block Referring to the drawings :1 designates my novel constnuction of sound box having the rear wall 2 of considerable thickness, and provided with the rearward extension 3, having the internal, annular rib or ribs 4:,which are adapted tofri'ctionally engage the tube 5 of the reproducer or ment, (not shown). portion of the sound box body is provided, in the premnt instance, with a peripheral bead 6, which may be omitted, but which in the present instance terminates in the front annular bead 7, which has a preferably ll-shaped annular seat 8 formed by the walls 9 and 10, said seat being adapted outer edge 11 of the diaphragm 12, which edge is preferably square, as will be understood from Fig. The inner wall 10 (see 3) of the seat 8 has projecting outwardly iiercirom the inclined wall 13, which meets the inclined the sound box body, which terminates in the opening 15, whereby the reproduced tone waves are conveyed to the sound conveying member 5. The diaphragm 12- has an opening therein at about its centenwherein is located a mass of suitable cementing mat 1'6, such as rubber or the like, in which i bedded the end 17 of the stylus arm 18, m. the lowerportion of which is the bar 19, which carries the chuck 20 for the stylus 21, which engages the rotary tablet 22 of the usual construcor bearing 23, of hard material, such as a jewel or semiprecious stone, is secured in each side of the bar 19 of the stylus support, and the pointed inner ends of two pins, 24:, engage such pivotbloclr s and are freely adjustable in transverse bores in ears or lugs, 25, preferably formed integral with tie sound box body and upon the periphery of the same. Nuts,

r 27 and 29, fit upon each of said pins at and 28, ar- .oi'led between nuts and the inner and outer sides,- respectively, of the ears,"ar l tension devices or springs, 26 around the pins and held the cars, so that the pins. form yielding pivot-supports for the stylus-support 19.

It will be understood that the above described construction of floating bearings is substantially identical with the construction described in my #820,643, filed: February 24th, 1914, the stylus holder being brate to alimited extent between the lugs 25, as is evident; m t will thus be seen that by my novel con struction, I have provided a novel bearing on each. side of the stylus holding device; which will be extremely durable, and where by'an excecdinglyjfaithful reproduction of the desired sounds will be had.

In the construction or manufacture-cf my novel sound box, I preferably employ horn ele- The outer forwardwith metal.

prior application, Serial permitted to freely vi-.

' am enabled'to prmluetion and ose i rubber or similar material, and produce the same by the operation of molding or castone thereto, is of about the same degreeof hardness as the rear wall 30 and the mass of material contiguous thereto, which can be readily effected by those skilled in the art during the operation of casting or molding the rubber of which the box is composed. Especial attention is also directed-'to the fact that the front bead -7, containing the diaphragm seat 8, together with its rear wall 13, is made of rubber, which is secured to theharder body portion by an annular, integral, resilient hinge 33, the'frontbead 7 containing-the diaphragm seat 8 being semi-cured or softer than the portions 14 box body. By this construction, all scratchy, harsh or metallic sounds'are absorlbged in the body portion 2, which I prefera IV sorbed, since in no instance in myvnovelj construction does metal come in'conta-ct I desire to also call especialattention to my manner of securing the tor minal 17 of the stylus arm to the'di'aphragm, since by the mass of cementing material or rubber 16,

the metal of said stylus arm is preventedfrom contacting with said diaphragm so that there is no possibility in any portion-of or improper.

my device for any chattering I vibration or rattling to take place, (which will impair a I desire to that I dispense with the said pointer and pin being" properly. aline I the stylus2l will contact with'thefdiskezi-p tablet 22 at the proper angle. or moldin'g the entire sound 'box'r In one piece of rubber or similar inaterra'Ljlmving;v the proper port ons thereof senn cur'ed or", softer than other portions" as described,, Ijgreatly reduce the cost. of: liimetallic parts, sue as H to dispense with the rarity of rubber and softer or semr-cured 80" and 30 of the sound 5 make of considerable thickness, and I by locating the annular. diaphragm-seat 8 9 employment of the faithful. reproductiom) which will not be absorbed in a-proper manner.

also call attention; to the factbayonet joint com-'= monly employed to effect the -interlocking Y of-the-rearward entension 3 with theitube f y" gassing screws, nuts, knife eosz s and she like, her' before employed, zit. mesome Lime producing device of superior excel .nce.

it will be apparent from Fig. 3, that by reason of the diaphragm seat 3 being cornposed of the inclined Walls 9' and 10, the square, lie diaphragm so said head 7 containing the dias z 8 so +2; at the outer peripheral v diaphragm will be per- 2 3 iu cue i quisiie extent of vibraccii crul and intermediate diuplirugm.

the body portion 2, which entiullv the mess of material Ale 1'; and in my method g in novel sound hos, ii and then the my 7 lcu may be first e sound ho}; lied) can he i porcion oi oi which the of ruhoer is cor pleted, her; being then front. annular, i i-cured, so thur iperuti softness .-urds roe frou'i: head 'li mold sine appears in i ll; essemhled within eud l of softer niuieriul. may

or one oth r u'uvs t. nus-much as I believe myself t is ziri'to produce a sound ier described, having portion oi softmeiclcucd body portion for purpose stated, 0 make all such changes the spiric i i oi the appended claims. it will be seen t 1st by the employment of the rubber or other \rhc-rehy 1 effect the assembling of the terininul 17 with iue diaphragm 12, as will be 50 understood from Fig. 2', said terminal being prefer-old provided with a plurality of heads or rings, thee there can he no rihru 510D betueen sue ss-glus srxn "1 1e the securof my invencementing material 16,

- cos by "frictional means or its equivalent, in lieu of ihe liu vouct goint generally e1- ployed, iliere is in no instance whatever, in my present invention, any opportunity for any mechanical, scratchy, metallic or grinding noises to be reproduced or created during the sound reproducing operation oi my device.

So far as I am aware, I am the first in the art to produce u. sound box of the character described out of rubber or similar inuizeriol, having portions thereof oi varying degrees of hardness, for the purpose stated. and my claims to my novel product, as Well as my claims to the method of making the sums. are to be construed with the corresponding score awarded to a pioneer invention. I also desire to cull attention to the manner in which the terminal 3-4- of the sound conveying tube 5 is suited against the shoulder in the sound oox body hese parts being united in such a way if, opening or passage 15 is of sulistuntiully the same diameter as she inner bore of the tube 5, so that the sounds are not broken or interrupted by any sharp angles formed by the union of the cube 5 and body portion 2,

the effect of which is evident. l furthering for the tube 5 within the extension 3 are once properly assembled with respect to each other. they Will not readily become displ ell. The neck 0 i than the body portion 2, if desired, so us to snugly hug the contiguous it will now be apparent that l have de- Yisedu novel and useful construction of 11 phones, grzunoplioiies and the like, which embodies the reatures oi advantage enumerreuiion and the above description, and while 1 have, in the present instance, shown and .YlllCli will he found in practice to give satisfactory and reliable results, it \S to be unmore provide an extended, frictional hearof the sound liox, so that after these parts mu}: he semi-cured or sliulitiv softer portion of the tube 5.

sound bot: for talking machines, gruplu uted us desirable in the statement of the indescrilied :1 preferred embodiment thereof (lersliood that the some is susceptible of modification in various mrticulurs, \Ylilllfllli? departing from the spirit or scope of the invention or sacrificing uny of (its advantages.

Having thus described my invention, what i. claim as new and desire so secure by Letters Patent, is:-

1, As an improved article of manufacture, a one-piece sound box body composed of resilient material, the front annular portion of which is adapted to surround the periphery of a diaphragm and is softer f u-in the other portions of said sound box body, for the purpose described.

2. A sound he hotly moving a, thickened resr and a front, annular, peripheral heed, secured to said wall by an annular, 111- tegral, resilient hinge, said bead encircling nular bead thereon, said. bead being proa diaphragmseat, and being capable of vivided with converging Walls whereby a diabration independently of said body portion. phragm seat isformed, said body having a 3. A sound box body having ,a thickened chamber in the rear of saidbead formed of rear wall, and a front, annular, peripheral converging Walls, said last mentioned cham- 7Q head, of softer material than said body, said her being of greater diameter than said diabead being provided with an annular, in phragm seat, in combination with a diaternal'diaphragm scat, said bead and its seat phragm secured in said diaphragm seat, a

ing integral, 'yvith said body and being stylus arm having its terminal located Withocapable ofvibrating independently of said in an aperture in said diaphragm, and a 2' body. body of cementing material common to said 4. As an improved article of manufacture, terminal and di phragm, whereby the two a one-piece sound box body made from rublatter are held in juxtaposition but out of her, said body having a front peripheral contactwith each other. I bead thereon encircling an annular seat for 11. A sound box body having a front -anso adiaphragm, and said body having an innular bead thereon,said bead being, provided ternal chamber in the rear of said diawith side walls, \vhercbyadiaphragm seatis phragm seat of greater diameter than the formed. said body having a iamber in the latter, said bead and seat being secured to rear of said head, formed with converging said body by an annular, rcsilienn'integral walls, said last-mentioned chamber being of 86 hinge, permitting vibration of said bead. greater diameter than said diaphragm seat, i 5. A; sound box body having a'thickened and said head and body being connected rear Wall, a front, annular bead of softer by an annular integral binge. material than said body, and provided with 12. A sound box body having a front anan annular diaphragm seat, said head and nu'lar bead thereon. said head being proon its seatbeing lntegralwith said body'and vided with annular converging n'alr' being capable of'vibrating independently of whereby diaphragm seat is formed, sai said body, and a diaphragm seated in said body having a chamber in the rear of said sent within said bead and capable of vibrabead, formed vith converging walls, said tion in unison with said bead. last mentioned chamber beingof greater di- 95 6; The combination of a diaphragm and ametcr than said diaphragmseat, and said a one-piece sound box body composed of rebead and body being connected by an annusilient material of. varying degrees of hardlar intrg'rabbinge. in con'ibination with a ness, the portion of said' box body encircling diaphrzmm secured in said diaphragm seat. said diaphragm being softer than said body 13. .is animprovcd article of manuiae 100 in the rear of said diaphragm. ture. a one-piece sound box body, the front The combination of a" diaphragm, a annular portion thereof being adapted to one-piece sound box body composed of resurround and QIM'iIL G a diapragm. and a silient material ofvarying degrees of hardhollow rraru'a rd iilivfll'fil onio on on said 40 mess, the portion of said box body encirlualy softer than the la e and provided 10, cling said diaphragzn nd in which said with an internal, annular rib adapted to endiaphragm has its seat being softer than the gage. a reproducer tube. other portions of said body in the rear of 1%. As an z'uproved article of mmiutac said diaphragm, said diaphragm seat being 'ture. a onwpicce sound box body baking a securedtosaid body by an annular, resilithickened rear wall. a tron; annular, e no ent, integral hinge, a stylus arm having its ripheral bead having a diaphragnr seat 1 terminal located in an aperture in said diatherein integral with said body, and a. rearphragm, and a mass of cementing material uard hollow QXtI'HhEHIl on said body, said common :to said terminal and said diaextension and bead being both softer than phragin, whereby the latter are secured, so said body. as toVibrate in unison butoutof contact 15. A sound box ody having a thickened with each other. rcarwall and a front. annular, peripheral 1 8. The combination of a sound box body bead secured to said wall by an annular, of hard rubber, a front annular bead thereintegral. resilient hinge. said head encircling 1 in of softcr rubber having a diaphragm a diaphragm seat and being capable of i-'i-' 12c seatf-therein, and an annular, resilient, inbration iudopemlcntly of said body porti tegral hinge common to said bead and sound and a rearward hollow extension on said ,boxbody; body softer than said body.

. 9. The combination of a sound box body 16. .As an'inu'u'm ed article of manufao 50 of hard rubber..a-front annular bead theret'ure, a one-piece sound box body. the front, in, of softer rubber, having a diaphragm annular portion thereof being adapted to seat therein, an annular, resilient, integral surround and encircle a d aphragm. and behinge common to said beadand sound box lngsolter than said sound box oody, and a bodyt and a diaphragm secured in said seat. bollow, rear-Warn extension on said body 65 10. A sound box body having a. from anaiso setter than the latter. 1- -1:

17. The combination of a sound box body having an integral diaphragm seat softer than said body, a diaphragm in said seat, a stylus arm having its terminal located in an aperture near the center of said dia- -phragm. but entirely out or contact therewith, and a mass of cementing material, common to said terminal and diaphragm, whereby the two latter are secured. so as to vibrate in unison but out of contact with each other.

18. As an improved article of manufao ture, a one-piece sound box body, the front,

annular portion thereof being adapted to surround and encircle a diaphragm, and being softer than said sound box body, a hob low, rearward extension on said body also softer than the latter, and lugs projecting from said body and integral therewith, adapted for the reception of cushioning devices for the stylus holder.

19. The combination 01. a sound box body, a diaphragm mounted in a seat therein. a stylus arm having its. terminal provided with a plurality of heads, said terminal. being located in an aperture near the center of said diaphragm, and said heads being on either side of said diaphragm said tr-miual being entirely out of contact therewith. and a mass of cen'ienting material common to said terminal and diaphragm, whereby the two latter are secured so as to vibrate in unison but out of contact with each other.

20. In a sound box for talking machines. a body portion having lugs thereon, threaded stems having a smooth portion freely movable in hearings in said lugs, a stylus holder intermediate said bearings, bearings of hard material on each side of said stylus holder, the juxtaposed ends of said thread ed stems being in engagement with said bearings, nuts on said threaded stems intermediate of said lugs and said bearings, cushioning devices intermediate said lugs and said nuts, nuts on the outer portions of said threaded stems, and cushioning devices intermediate said outer nuts and said bearlngs.

21. In a, sound box for talking machines, a body portion having lugs thereon, threaded stems having a smooth portion movable in hearings in said lugs. a stylus holder intermediate said bearings. jeweled hearings on each side of said stylus holder. the juxtaposed ends of said threaded stems being pointed and engaging seats in said jeweled bearings, nuts on said threaded stems ihtermediate of said lugs and said jeweled hearings, tension devices intermediate said lugs and said nuts, nuts on the outer portions of said threaded stems, and tension devices intermediate said outer nuts and said bearings. 22. The combination of a reproducer tube of the bore through said body being substantially the same as and in alinement with the inner bore in said reproducer tube.

23. In a sound box for talking machines, a body portion having lugs thereon, threaded stems having juxtaposed pointed ends and a smooth portion freely movable in said lugs, a stylus holder intermediate said pointed stems, bearings formed in opposite sides of said stylus holder in which said pointed ends are seated, adjusting devices on said stems intermediate or said lugs and bearings, cushioning devices intermediate said lugs and adjusting devices, nuts on the outer portion of each of said stems and cushioning devices intermediate said outer nuts and lugs.

24. The combination of a diaphragm, a sound box body composed of resilient material. the front annular portion t-hereofbeing adapted to surround the periphery of said diaphragm and being integral With and softer than the body portion of said sound box, a stylus arm having its inner end secured to said diaphragm, and cushioning deiices carried by said body, the outer portion of said stylus arm being supported by said cushioning devices.

2'. The combination of a diaphragm, a sound box body composed of resilient material, the front annular portion thereofbeing adapted to surround the periphery of said diaphragm and being integral with and softer than said body, a stylus arm having its inner end secured to said diaphragm, lugs also integral with said body, and sup porting devices for the outer portion of said stylus arm carried in said lugs.

26. The combination of a diaphragm, a sound box body composed of resilient material, the front annular portion thereof being adapted to surround the periphery of said diaphragm. and being integral With and softer than said body. a stylus arm having its inner and secured to said diaphragm, lugs also integral with said body, supporting devices tor, the outer portion of said stylus arm carried by said lugs, and a rearward hollow extension on said body of softer material than said body and adapted to engage a suitable support.

ALVA D. JONES.

Witnesses: E. HAYWARD FAIRBANKS, C. D. MGVAY. 

